What Dogpool Teaches Us About Responsible AI

In the “Deadpool and Wolverine” movie, there’s a dog named Peggy who plays the role of Dogpool. Peggy doesn’t fit the typical Hollywood mold for a blockbuster film. Peggy is a mixed breed, part Pug and part Chinese Crested, and she won the title of Britain’s Ugliest Dog in 2023. An “ugly” dog wouldn’t usually be cast in a major movie. However, its inclusion highlights a break from traditional biases, celebrating uniqueness and diversity.

Similarly, in the world of Generative AI, removing bias is about ensuring that algorithms and models don’t favor certain groups over others. It’s about learning to engineer a prompt that contradicts our biases. This means considering different use conditions and context.

If you’re looking to build a foundation for your Responsible AI policies, here are Microsoft’s six values:

• Fairness – using diverse data sets
• Inclusiveness – including people of all abilities and backgrounds
• Transparency – documenting and communicating how AI systems are making decisions
• Accountability – auditing to ensure compliance with these responsible AI principles
• Privacy and Security – implementing data protection measures
• Reliability and Safety – minimizing and mitigating potential harms

Over these is Human Oversight, and I am often asked if we can monitor the prompts that users are creating. There are two things that might get you what you’re looking for.

1. Communication Compliance Policy (link)
2. Audit Report in Purview (link)

My other piece of advice is to make sure you have a feedback loop for people to report if they were able to access sensitive data. In my experience, people inside your company aren’t malicious actors. They will let you know if they accidentally find something they know they shouldn’t be able to access. To do that efficiently, have a reporting system in place and add that knowledge to your organizational change management communications. My recommendation is a form that allows them to enter the prompt they used and the hyperlink they were able to access (as opposed to making them call the Service Desk).

By embracing Peggy, "Deadpool and Wolverine" sends a message that every character, no matter how unconventional, has value. In Copilot for M365, removing bias ensures that every piece of data is treated with equal importance, leading to more accurate and fair outcomes. Peggy is the perfect poster dog to remind us of what we're trying to achieve with Responsible AI.